May 23, 1859.] JAPAN. 29^7 



and eventually make ns acquainted with that vast interior which 

 separates China from Hindostan. In the mean time let me commend 

 to the perusal of all those who desire to become acquainted with the 

 internal resources of China and its trade a most instructive short 

 pamphlet of my friend Mr. John Crawfurd. That paper, which was 

 given as a popular lecture before the Philosophical and Literary 

 Society of Leeds, is the clearest and best condensed account of the 

 people and productions of this remarkable empire which has fallen 

 under my notice. 



Japan. — Although Marco Polo, in the thirteenth century, first 

 brought to Europe the intelligence of the existence of the chain of 

 volcanic islands now known as Japan, this empire — one island of 

 which is as large as Britain — has remained to a great extent un- 

 known to us. Early in the fifteenth century, and for the brief 

 space of ten years, a British factory existed at Firando, but that 

 intercourse was abandoned for more profitable ventures. 



To the Dutch, who have contrived, in spite of much opposition, 

 to maintain their commercial intercourse with Japan, we are chiefly 

 indebted for any knowledge we possess of its inhabitants. Eamp- 

 fer, indeed, opined that owing to the dangerous access to their 

 shores, and to the prolific nature of the soil, nature seemed to have 

 destined these islands to constitute a secluded world within them- 

 selves. Yet, the barriers have now been broken down, and the fer- 

 tile Japan is opened to the commerce of the West. 



As our kinsmen of the United States had the merit of leading the 

 way in obtaining this result, we also may now rejoice that through 

 the sagacious conduct of Lord Elgin, aided by the vigorous naval 

 movement of Sherard Osbom, Britain has obtained that full share 

 in the commercial advantages which are likely to flow from the 

 new treaty. 



In the treaty concluded by Lord Elgin at Yedo, or, as it is usually 

 written by us, Jeddo, several of the restrictions enforced upon the 

 Dutch are not applied. Hitherto, the intercourse of Europeans 

 with Japan being confined exclusively to the small Dutch factory 

 at the extreme point of the empire, has exercised no influence 

 whatever upon the mass of the population. They have been as 

 effectually secluded from the rest of the world as if the great 

 island of Desima did not exist, nor have the products and manu- 

 factures of the West penetrated as yet into the cities and villages of 

 Dai Nipon. Doubtless, it may require time to create wants in a 

 population hitherto so independent of the rest of the world, but the 



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